Indications emerged on Sunday, that the duo were going different routes on the issue of Senate presidency, as Atiku met with senators backing Senator Bukola Saraki, barely 24 hours after meeting with supports of Senator Ahmed Lawan, who is gunning for the same position.
Supporters of Senator Lawan, under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum had met with Atiku and Tinubu in Abuja, on Saturday, shortly after announcing their backing for the Yobe Senator.
It was learnt that the resolve to meet Atiku was to woo him as a leader of the North East.
It was also gathered that Tinubu and Senators from the South West, who had adopted Lawan as the best candidate for the Senate Presidency decided to put Atiku into the plan, especially as the Turakin, Adamawa is also a leader of the North East, where Lawan hails from.
Sources however told the Nigerian Tribune that Atiku only met with the Lawan group without showing firm commitment to the group.It was learnt that shortly after his meeting with the Lawan group, Atiku resolved to also hear from the Saraki group after which he decided that he was backing the popular candidate.
“I can confirm to you that the former Vice President asked the Saraki group to see him on Sunday afternoon. After which he made up his mind to back the popular candidate the Senators eventually choose to lead them,” a source said.
Atiku was also said to have told his close allies that he was in support of neutrality already expressed by President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on the issue of National Assembly positions, adding that the senators are better left to determine their leaders.
According to the source, Atiku told the Senators that having served in Obasanjo’s government and seen the series of troubles that afflicted the National Assembly as a result of leadership imposition, he would not want the Bihari administration to kick off on a wrong note.
A source told the Nigerian Tribune that the 35 APC Senators who had signed up to back Saraki followed him to the meeting with Atiku.
It was learnt that the group was assured by Atiku that he would be neutral and back a process that would allow them choose their preferred leader.
Also on Sunday, sources told the Nigerian Tribune that following the decision of the like mind Senators, supporters of Senator Bukola Saraki for Senate President to announce their majority among APC Senators, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had flagged off a lobby of Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the inauguration of the 8th Senate.
It emerged on Saturday that Senators of the PDP who are 49 in number have a become the beautiful bride and actually hold the key to determining the next senate president in view of the split among APC lawmakers.
Saraki has already claimed 35 out of the 59 APC Senators, while the remaining 24 are believed to be rooting for Lawan, whose group announced an alliance with Senator George Akume on Saturday.
Sources confirmed that Tinubu, who is leading the lobby had reached out to Senate President David Mark and a number of PDP senators.
A source said that Tinubu might have visited the Apo Mansion, home of the Senate President late on Saturday but the Nigerian Tribune could not independently confirm that.
-Tribune